Banana-crate.



J. DIAFERIA.

BANANA CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. I912.

1,155,406. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

JOSEPH nrarnnm, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrerroa'rornamr sense, or crr'roaeo,

. rumors.

BANANA-enema niaaioe.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DIAFERIA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Banana-Crates,

'of which I do declare the following to, be

a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

and particularly pointed out in the claims "at the end ofthis specification.

'My present invention has relation more particularly to that class-0f. cratesfor carrying bunches of bananas. Heretoforebanana crates of this character have been made consisting of drums or cylinderszadapted to receive a bunch ofbanailas, the top of the drum being provided with :aflexible cover of paper secured to the upper edge of the drum and adapted to be drawn in and tied about the stem or stalk of the bunch of bananas. A difficulty found with this class of banana crates is, that if the sheet of paper becomes wet, as is frequently the case, it is apt to readily tear, so that when the bunch of bananas is lifted by the stem, there is'danger of the drum dropping, away from the bananas. Moreover, with this class of crates, if the Weight of the bunch of bananas rests upon the bottom of the crate and the crate be lifted by its upper portion, there is danger of the bottom falling out and thus permitting the bananas to fall from the crate.

My present invention is designed to obviate the above mentioned difficulties. This is accomplished, primarily, by providing a banana crate having a bottom, vertical strips and a top hoop with wiresor cords extending from the bottomto the top of the crate and across the top thereof, these cords or wires serving asbails whereby the crate with its contents may be carried.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a banana crate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the crate.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, rat-sated Oct. 19.15.

Application filed July 26, 1312. Serial No. 711,698.

Bananacrates of the character to which my invention relates, are sometimes made simply as open frames, but, preferably, comprise cylindrical bodies inclosed by. hoops and vertical stay strips. As shown, the body A of my improved crate is formed of a sheet of flexible material, such, for example, as a good quality of cardboard, the edges of *which are broughttogether and connected preferably at a point opposite one of the vertical strips, of the crate. The bottom B of the crate is of wood and is attached to the cylindricalbody 'A by nails 0 that pass through the'bottom hoop C that encircles the body at the bottom. A central hoop .D and a top hoop E also encircle the body A 'of the crate.

rub airfares PATENT, orrrca.

Upon the outsideof, the body A andivith- V in the-several hoops, extend a plurality of vertical strips F of thinwood, these strips being nailed to the several hoops in any suitable-or convenient manner. f

To thetop of the body A is secured the cover G thatis preferably: formed of a sheet of tough paper, this paper being preferably passed around the body A adjacent its up per end. This cover G is of suflicient fullness, sothat after thebunch of bananashas lbeene-placed within the crate, the cover G may be drawn or tucked in around the stem or stalk of the bunch; or, if the bunch be short, the cover G may be simply tucked in over the top of the bunch. Down the sides of the crate, and preferably outside the vertical strips F, extend the wires H. Four of these Wires H are shown extending along the sides of the crate and, preferably, the wires H at opposite sides are formed in one piece and are extended across the bottom B of the crate and beneath the crown of a staple K that securely connects the wires to the bottom B at" its center. extend insidethe bottom hoop C, as by this arrangement the nails 0 at each side of the wire H serve to prevent the displacement ofthe wire and, similarly, the wires H extend inside the central hoop D and between the nails 61 that connect the central hoop to the vertical strips F.

The upper portions of the wires F are preferably arranged outside the top hoop E and pass through staples e that connect the Wires to the hoops. This arrangement of the wires on the outside of the top hoop is By preference, the wires H preferred, as the top hoop thus prevents the drawing together of the Wires When they are i used in lifting the crate and its contents.

The upper ends of the Wires F are preferably free, so as to permit the bunch of bananas to be readily inserted into the crate;

but, after the bunch of bananas has been placed Within the crate, the cover G willbe tucked or folded in and the free ends of the Wires F Will be brought together and twisted around one another, so as to form a bail or bails whereby the crate may be lifted.

of the Wires have been twisted together, a fmost eifective'means is afforded Whereby the crate and its contents may be lifted. The'Wires also effectively serve to prevent the bottom B dropping out of the crate" in event the strain of the bunch of bananas is thrown thereon and, in fact, the Wires serve to take the lifting strain and thus avoid the danger of the breakage'of the crate, Moreover, when the free ends 'of'the Wires F are twisted together over the top of the cover Gr, they will effectively serve to hold the coverin place and will guard against any tampering with. the bananas Within the crate. i 1

While, Without departing from the scope of my invention, cords might be used instead of the Wires F, still I regard the use of the Wires as preferable. I Wish the term Wires, however, as used in the following Gopies-of this patent may be; obtained for claims, to be understood ascovering cords or similar suspension devices that may be substituted therefor, and, While I prefer that the upper ends of the Wires shall be free, it

is obvious that this is not essential, so long as the Wires extend to a suflicient distance abovethe top to form the bails.

comprising a bottom, a top hoop, vertical side strips secured to said bottom and said top hoop, bracing Wires secured to saidbottom and extending upwardly over and in contact with the outer faces of said vertical side strips, said Wires being fastened to the' upper portion of the crate and having extended'ends adapted to be connected across the open top thereof, substantially as described. 1 I

2. A cylindrical open topped banana crate comprising a bottom, a top hoop, vertical side strips secured to said bottom and said top hoop, and bracing Wires extending across andbeneath said bottom and up- Wardly' over and-in contact With the outer faces of said vertical side strips, said 'Wires being fastened to said top hoop and having extended .end portions adapted to'be connected across the open top of the crate, substantially as described. g

' JOSEPH DIAFERIA.

l Witnesses: V s

J AMns H. Pnmcn, KATHARINE GERLAOH.

five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of 'PatentS,

Washington, I); G. 

